FOCUSProf Moses
FOCUSProf Moses MbeweDeputy Vice-Chancellor of Postgraduate Studies,Engagement and Planning: Prof Mbewe holds aBSc in Biology from Texas Southern University inthe USA. He completed his postgraduate studies(Master’s and PhD) at the University of Cambridge,Department of Genetics, in Microbial Geneticsand Molecular Biology. He went on to become theMellon Postdoctoral Fellow in Microbiology at theUniversity of Cape Town from 1995 to 1996.Prof Aldo StroebelDeputy Vice-Chancellor of Research, Innovationand Internationalisation: Holds BSc and Honoursdegrees from the University of Pretoria; Master’sin International Agricultural Development fromUniversity of Ghent, Belgium; PhD in SustainableAgriculture from the University of the Free Stateand Cornell University, USA; Postdoctoral researchfrom Wageningen University, Netherlands; andhas completed professional training courses inResearch Management, Gender Programming,Diversity Leadership and Corporate Governance.Dr Paul MaminzaDean of Students: Holds a PhD (CurriculumStudies) from the University of Stellenbosch; a PostGraduate Diploma in Rural Development Planningfrom the Weitz Centre in Israel; an STD in TechnicalEducation and an NDip (Electrical Engineering) fromTechnikon Northern Transvaal; and BTech and MTechdegrees from Technikon SA. His area of interest is inpost-school education, rural development, studentleadership and engagement. Dr Maminza is arecipient of the UNESCO/MASHAV fellowship.Prof Hilda IsraelDean of Education: Holds a Master of Science inEducation from Baylor University, Texas, USA, andwas one of six South African women chosen tocomplete the Higher Education Research Support(HERS) Programme for Women Managers in HigherEducation in Philadelphia, USA. Prof Israel is theChair of the UMP Institutional Forum, which advisesCouncil on policy and the Acting Chair of the UMPTeaching and Learning Committee of Senate.Prof Vusi GumedeDean of Economics, Development and BusinessSciences: Holds a PhD in Economics, MCom inEconomics and a Postgraduate Diploma in Policy,among his higher qualifications. He held seniorgovernment positions before joining academia. Hehas worked for various South African universitiesand has been affiliated to numerous institutions asa board member, advisor, director, fellow, associate,reviewer, facilitator, panel member, trustee andhonorary professor.Prof Ndiko LudidiDean of Agriculture and Natural Sciences: As amember of the Academy of Science of South Africa(ASSAf ), Prof Ludidi holds incredible researchexperience and brings a wealth of knowledge to hisfaculty. He served as a Professor of Biotechnologyat the University of the Western Cape beforejoining UMP.Confidence NdlovuAssociate Lecturer: Confidence Ndlovu is an
FOCUSAcademic Talent Stewardship Programme (ATSP)Fellow and Associate Lecturer in the School ofDevelopment Studies at UMP. She is the university’sfirst Master’s graduate and is currently pursuing aPhD in Development Studies. In 2020, as Presidentof ENACTUS UMP, she led the team to win 000in Ford competitions for the sustainable communityproject, REFUEL.Vuyelwa MagagulaAssociate Lecturer: Vuyelwa Magagula is a formerand first female Student Representative Council(SRC) President. She has evolved into an AssociateLecturer under the ATSP in Development Studies.Currently pursuing her Master’s degree, Magagula’sresearch delves into the Sustainability of WomenownedHome-based Businesses in the era ofloadshedding and the significance of addressingchallenges faced by women entrepreneurs duringpower outages, contributing to broader goals ofsustainability and gender equality.PartnershipsAlthough the strong drive to appointqualified staff and to engage in meaningful andimpactful research are key factors in the progressof UMP, the institution has also adopted a veryprogressive attitude towards the community inwhich it operates.Most obviously, by offering courses appropriateto the needs of the citizens of Mpumalanga, UMP ismaking itself relevant to the local economy. Thereare also formal ties with industry leaders, as ProfMayekiso explains: ‘‘We have mutually beneficialrelationships that are characterised by reciprocitywith the various industry partners.“UMP works closely with the hospitality andtourism industry and the agricultural industry.These are the two main industries where ourstudents do Work Integrated Learning, Internshipsand Learnerships. They also employ a number ofour former students. Some of the industry partnersparticipate as members of the Advisory Boardswhere they make valuable insights towards theeducation and training of our students.”Prof Mayekiso believes that close collaborationbetween the private sector and the tertiary sectoris in everyone’s best interests. She explains, ‘‘Thegeneration of knowledge and the application ofknowledge should be seen as a virtuous circle.Sharing insights, exchanging experiences, andworking collaboratively have shown this as thereliable trajectory to follow. There is a reciprocalsharpening and refining of insights so as to becontinuously better at what we shape together.”Prof Thoko MayekisoProfessor Thoko Mayekiso obtained a BA, BAHonours and MA in psychology from theUniversity of Fort Hare. She furthered herstudies at the Free University of Berlin inGermany, where she obtained her DPhil(cum laude) in psychology. She also holdsa higher education diploma (Postgraduate)from the University of South Africa. She is aregistered Clinical Psychologist with the HealthProfessional Council of South Africa (HPCSA).She practiced as an Honorary Clinical Fellowand Clinical Psychologist in the United Kingdom.The South African University Vice-Chancellors'Association and the American Council onEducation awarded her a fellowship whichwas tenable at the University of Washington,Seattle. She then joined the University of theWitwatersrand, Johannesburg, in 2001 whereshe became Deputy Dean and then Acting Deanin the Faculty of Humanities. She proceededto Nelson Mandela University as an ExecutiveDean in the Faculty of Arts, and then DeputyVice-Chancellor (research and engagement).She is a C3 rated scientist by the NationalResearch Foundation. She is a memberof the Academy of Science ofSouth Africa (ASSAf) and isalso a member of the ASSAfSteering Committee on theestablishment of the Forumon Just Transition. In 2024,Prof Mayekiso was honouredwith the Public ServiceVisionary Award atthe BBQ Awards. ■35
